System and method for providing fast channel surfing

ABSTRACT

A system and method for enabling television watchers to “channel surf” faster and reduce the amount of bandwidth used over a network to communicate television channels to end-users. Electronic programming guide information and images associated therewith may be communicated to an end-user. An image associated with a video program may be displayed on an electronic display (e.g., television) in response to an end-user selecting a channel prior to video programming being displayed. By displaying an image prior to the video programming, the end-user may determine whether he or she wants to watch the video program prior to the video programming being displayed, which improves the speed of “channel surfing.” Because end-users can view the image when selecting a channel, a network can be configured to distribute the channels that are currently being watched rather than distributing many on a continuous basis, thereby preserving bandwidth.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/803,899, filed May 15, 2007 by Clinton J. Smoyer et al. and entitled,“System and Method for Providing Fast Channel Surfing”, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional broadcast television operates by video content (e.g.,television shows) being communicated over analog broadcast frequencies,commonly known as channels. Broadcasters of conventional televisionschedule the video content, commonly known as programming (hereinafter“video programming”), so that viewers of the television channels canwatch a certain program at a certain time. For example, a broadcastermay schedule a television show on a certain day and at a certain time(e.g., Seinfeld, Thursday, 7:00 PM, Channel 5, ABC network). Withconventional television being broadcast over public airwaves with highbandwidth, a viewer selects a channel on a television, which causes atelevision receiver to tune to a frequency associated with the selectedchannel. The television receiver receives broadcast signals beingbroadcast at that broadcast frequency. Once received, the televisiondisplays the video content being received on the channel. As isappreciated by conventional television viewers, the time betweenselecting a channel and displaying the video content of the channel issubstantially instantaneous. And, as is appreciated by conventionaltelevision broadcasters, the cost to broadcast the video content to alarge number of viewers (e.g., an entire city) is primarily limited tothe cost of setting up a broadcast tower and video distributionequipment to that tower.

As the information age has developed, so has television. Viewership ofconventional broadcast television has significantly decreased sincecable and satellite television has become widely available. With cableand satellite networks, set top boxes were developed to operate astuners and provide interactive programming guides for subscribers. Theset top boxes operate by receiving digital signals representative of thecontent on each of the channels being communicated thereto. The set topboxes further operate by receiving and storing the programming guideinformation and enabling viewers to view the programming guideinformation to select a television channel by using a remote controlthat interacts with the set top box. Because the number of televisionchannels has increased from less than ten with conventional televisionto hundreds of channels on both cable and satellite television, usingthe programming guide enables viewers to quickly browse through thetelevision programs.

While the programming guide is helpful to viewers, there are viewers whowant to casually browse the television programs being broadcast bysimply changing the channels using an up and down channel selector on aremote control, as was traditionally done with conventional televisionbefore programming guides were available. This is commonly known as“channel surfing.” Channel surfing on televisions that have set topboxes is significantly slower than the channel surfing experience withconventional television. While display of video programming wassubstantially instantaneous with conventional broadcast television,display of video programming on set top box television (e.g., IPTV andsatellite) has a delay of about two seconds. One reason for channelsurfing being significantly slower than conventional television is thetime delay for the set top boxes to request, access, and convert thedigital content into viewable images. Another reason for the delay isthe relatively low bandwidth of the communication mediums given theamount of data used for communicating the video content.

With the development of Internet protocol television (IPTV),communication companies are establishing networks for subscribers towatch video content. FIG. 1 is an illustration of a conventional network100 that is configured to deliver IPTV. As shown, a head-end server 102is used to store and deliver video content in the form of data packets104 as data stream 105 a and 105 b (collectively 105), as understood inthe art. An IPTV control server 106 is operable to manage and controlthe video content being streamed via the data stream 105 over thenetwork 100 to subscribers. A data POP router 108 may be utilized toroute the streaming video content to the appropriate locations over anIP network 110 (e.g., the Internet).

A digital subscriber line aggregator router 112 is configured to managesubscribers of a service provider. For example, a database (not shown)may store channel purchase information of a subscriber so that onlythose channels purchased by the subscriber are routed to thatsubscriber. As shown, the data stream 105 is communicated from thehead-end server 102 via the data POP router 108 to the DSL aggregatorrouter 112. The DSL aggregator router 112 communicates the data stream105 via the IP network 110 to a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) 114. TheDSLAM 114 operates to connect subscribers to the IP network 110, hostsvideo streams/Internet group management protocol (IGMP), and providesQnQ tagging for Ethernet transport of the video content. The DSLAM 114further operates as a multiplexer to distribute the channels of thevideo stream 105 to modems 116 a-116 n (collectively 116) associatedwith set top boxes 118 a-118 n (collectively 118).

As with other forms of non-broadcast television, such as satellite andcable, video programming is also provided for subscribers to watchcertain programs on certain days and at certain times. The set top boxes118 are configured to download electronic programming guide (EPG)information from the video stream 105 and allow a subscriber to interactwith the set top box 118 a via a remote control (not shown) to view anelectronic programming guide with the electronic programming guideinformation stored in the set top box.

While IPTV and other non-broadcast television platforms provide forimproved television viewing, there are limitations to IPTV both on thenetwork side and on the subscriber side. On the network side, andespecially with IPTV networks, network providers make available a largenumber of the television channels (e.g., 200 or more channels). Of thosechannels, IPTV network providers typically continuously stream upwardsof half (e.g., 80-100 channels) of the most popular channels to theDSLAM 114 via the data stream 105 to reduce latency for the viewer sothat the viewer may “channel surf” as was traditionally done withbroadcast television. While latency from the network to the set top boxmay be reduced by streaming the video programming, the time for the settop box to receive, convert, and display the video programming is stillsignificantly longer than traditional broadcast television. Asunderstood in the art, latency for selecting and displaying a channel isupwards of 2 seconds or more.

A problem with continuously streaming the large number of IPTV channelsis the bandwidth needed used by the data being communicated over thenetwork to the DSLAM. While traditional television image display usesbandwidth between 4 and 7 megabits per second (Mbps), high-definitiontelevision display uses between 12 and 14 Mbps. To manage the bandwidthbeing communicated over the network for both traditional andhigh-definition television display data streams, additional expensiveequipment is deployed to handle the large bandwidth needs to meet everincreasing subscriber demand. Older DSLAMs with T1 IMA or DS3 interfacescost roughly $20,000-$60,000 and can handle 8 Mbs-45 Mbs of bandwidth toservice 48-672 customers, newer DSLAMS with OC3 or Gigabit Ethernetinterfaces costs about $40,000-$100,000 and can handle 155 Mbs-1000 Mbpsof bandwidth to service 672-1024 customers. As more subscriberstransition to IPTV, much more equipment will be needed using the currentphilosophy of continuously streaming the most popular channels via thenetwork to the DSLAMs to make the subscriber experience faster and moreenjoyable.

On the subscriber side, subscribers using set top boxes with cabletelevision, satellite television, and IPTV, for example, have thefrustrating experience of having a slow channel surfing experiencerelative to conventional broadcast television. As previously described,the time needed for video programming to be displayed when switching tothe channel, either via a programming guide or simply changing a channelusing up or down channel selector from a remote control, may be 2seconds or more. Such time delays, especially when compared totraditional broadcast television, feels like an eternity and weakens thetelevision watching experience.

SUMMARY

To overcome the problem of latency of set top box television, theprinciples of the present invention provide for downloading images, suchas still images or short video clips (“preloaded images”), associatedwith video programming to a set top box similar to downloadingprogramming guide information so that the images may be displayed to auser prior to the video programming being displayed. In other words, inresponse to a viewer switching channels, an image may be displayedsubstantially instantaneously to provide the viewer with a “feel” ofwatching traditional broadcast television, thereby providing viewerswith a more enjoyable television watching experience. By displaying theimage, a “channel surfer” viewer may more readily make a decisionwhether to watch the video programming on the selected channel or switchto another channel before the video programming begins to be displayed.

To overcome the problems of network configurations having to streamlarge amounts of video content that consumes large amounts of networkbandwidth, thereby requiring additional and more expensive networkequipment, the principles of the present invention provide for streamingchannels over a network to a network to an end-user distributionend-point selected by the end-users. While this network configurationmay slightly increase latency for end-users selecting a channel and thevideo programming actually being displayed, end-users will unlikelynotice the increased latency due to being able to view images for faster“surfing” decision-making.

One system for communicating video content to an end-user may include astorage unit configured to store electronic programming guideinformation and images associated with the electronic programming guideinformation. An input/output (I/O) unit may be configured to communicatewith a network, and a processing unit may be in communication with thestorage unit and I/O unit. The processing unit may be configured tocommunicate the electronic programming guide information and images viathe network to an electronic device at an end-user.

A method for communicating video content to an end-user may includestoring images associated with video programming to be communicated overchannels selectably viewable by an end-user on an electronic display.Electronic programming guide information may be communicated to theend-user to enable the end-user to view the electronic programming guideinformation to determine video programming on the channels. Imagesassociated with the video programming may be communicated to theend-user, where an image may be displayed in response to the end-userselecting a channel to display video programming available for displayon the selected channel. In response to the end-user requesting achannel, video programming may be communicated to the end-user to bedisplayed in place of the displayed image.

A system for displaying video programming to an end-user may include astorage unit configured to store electronic programming guideinformation and images associated with the electronic programming guideinformation, an I/O unit configured to communicate with an electronicdisplay and a network, and a processing unit in communication with thestorage unit and I/O unit. The processing unit may be configured toreceive a request to display a channel, access an image stored on thestorage unit, where the accessed image may be associated with videoprogramming currently available on the selected channel, display theaccessed image, request video programming currently scheduled on theselected channel via a network, and display the video programmingscheduled on the selected channel.

The principles of the present invention may further provide for a systemfor distributing video programming. The system may include a firstnetwork device configured to make available and distribute a pluralityof channels for end-users to watch, a second network device incommunication with the first network device, where the first networkdevice is further configured to communicate a first subset of thechannels to the second network device. A third network device may be incommunication with the second network device, where the second networkdevice is configured to communicate a second subset of channels matchingchannels selected to be viewed by the end-users. The third networkdevice may be configured to receive the second subset of channels anddistribute the second subset of channels to respective end-users forviewing video programming.

A method in accordance with the principles of the present invention mayinclude making available a plurality of channels having videoprogramming for end-users to watch. A first subset of the channels maybe to a first network device. Channels being viewed by the end-users maybe determined. A second subset of channels may be established from thefirst subset of channels, where the second subset of channels may beestablished by the channels being viewed by the end-users. The secondsubset of channels may be communicated from the first network device toa second network device, where the second network device may beconfigured to distribute channels of the second subset of channels torespective end-users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which areincorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a convention network configured to deliverIPTV;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary network configured to deliverIPTV in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary device utilized to delivervideo programming to an end-user;

FIG. 4 is a signal diagram illustrating an exemplary process fordelivering video programming to an end-user;

FIG. 5 is a signal diagram of an exemplary process for set top boxoperation;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another exemplary process for set top boxoperation; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an exemplary process for network operation fordelivering video programming to end-users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary network 200 configured todeliver IPTV in accordance with the principles of the present invention.A head-end server 202 and IPTV control server 204, which are componentsthat may form video head-end equipment, may be configured to control,store, and communicate video programming in the form of data packets 206in a data stream 207 to a data POP router 208. The data stream 207 mayinclude the most popular channels, such as 40-50 percent of availablechannels, as is performed in conventional IPTV networks. The data stream207 may be communicated from the data POP router 208 to a DSL aggregatorrouter 210. In one embodiment, the DSL aggregator router 210 isconfigured to receive the data stream 207 including the videoprogramming and communicate channels currently requested fromsubscribers and data streams 212 a-212 n (collectively, requested datastreams 212) via IP network 214 to DSLAM 216. The DSLAM 216, in responseto receiving the requested video programming on the data streams 212,may communicate the data streams of respectively requested channels tomodems 218 a-218 n (collectively 218) for delivery to set top boxes 220a-220 n (collectively 220).

By limiting communication of channels over the network 214 to thosechannels that are currently being requested, bandwidth capabilitiesacross the network 214 and network equipment (e.g., DSLAM 216) may belowered. It should be understood that the network devices (i.e.,head-end server 102, data POP router 108, DSL Aggregator router 112, andDSLAM 114) are exemplary and that alternative or combined networkdevices may be utilized to perform the same or similar functionality inaccordance with the principles of the present invention. If, forexample, a low number of channels are being requested by subscribers,then a limited number of channels communicated in data streams 212 arecommunicated from the DSL aggregator router 210 to the DSLAM 216 forcommunication to the set top boxes 220. Because a more limited number ofdata streams 212 may be delivered via the network 214 to the DSLAM 216,a more cost effective DSLAM may be utilized to accommodate distributionof video programming to end-users. One reason for all of the videoprogramming in the data stream 207 not having to be communicated to theDSLAM 216 is due to the principles of the present invention enablingend-users to be able to view an image associated with video programmingon each channel. By being able to view the images, delay in the videoprogramming while “channel surfing” is less noticeable and the end-useris able to instantly determine whether he or she wants to remain on aparticular channel based on the images being displayed when surfing theavailable channels.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary system 300 device utilized todeliver video programming to an end-user (e.g., subscriber). The system300 may be generally representative of a number of systems utilized todeliver video programming and images associated therewith to end-users.For example, the system 300 may represent a head-end server 102, IPTVcontrol server 106, DSL aggregator router 112, and/or set top box 118.In other words, each of these systems may include the components shownin the system 300 of FIG. 3, but use different specific components andsoftware configured to perform different functionality, as understood inthe art. As shown, the system 300 includes a processing unit 302, whichmay be formed of one or more processors, that executes software 304. Thesoftware, depending upon the system functionality; may be configured tostore and (i) manage information, such as video programming informationand images, (ii) manage routing of video streams, or (iii) manageinteraction with an end-user to download video programming and imagesfor display on a television or other electronic display.

The processing unit 302 may be in communication with a memory 306. Thememory 306 may be a random access memory (RAM), flash memory, or anyother memory type. The processing unit 302 may also be in communicationwith an input/output (I/O) unit 308 that is configured to communicatewith a television or other electronic display, remote control, network,or other devices, such as digital video disc (DVD), digital videorecorder (DVR), or any other local or network located device. Theprocessing unit 302 may additionally be in communication with a storageunit 310 that is configured to store files in data repositories 312a-312 n (collectively 312). The data repositories 312 may storeelectronic programming guide information and images associated withvideo programming listed in the video programming guide information. Theimages may be still images, graphic images, text images, low data movingimages or other image that may provide a graphical or textualrepresentation to end-users who may be channel surfing and desire toknow what video program is on a particular channel without having towait for the video programming to begin playing, generally about 2seconds or more after selecting a channel, or use the programming guide.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an end-usermay use an up and down channel selector on a remote control to switchthe channel upwards or downwards. Within a timeframe consistent withconventional broadcast television, a set top box may substantiallyinstantaneously display an image associated with a video programcurrently being communicated on a selected channel. For example, if anend-user is “flipping” through channels in a “channel surf” mode, thenupon selecting a channel that is showing a program, such as The Dukes ofHazard, an image showing Luke, Bo, Daisy Duke, and the General Leesports-car may be displayed in a still image so that the end-user mayquickly determine that he or she is either interested or not interestedin watching The Dukes of Hazard and remain on the channel or surf fromthe selected channel to another channel. The image may be displayed onthe television until the video programming begins to be displayed on thetelevision via the set top box or the user switches from the selectedchannel to another channel prior to the video programming beginningdisplay. This display of an image associated with video programming oneach channel makes the television watching experience more enjoyable asusers may determine whether or not to watch a selected channel withouthaving to wait for the video programming to start being displayed or usethe programming guide.

FIG. 4 is a signal diagram illustrating an exemplary process 400delivering video programming to an end-user. Three different devices areshown, including a set top box 220 a, DSL aggregator router 210, andvideo head-end equipment 402. Signals 403 may be communicated betweeneach of the devices. At step 404, a request electronic programming guide(EPG) signal may be communicated from the set top box 220 to DSLaggregator router 210. The DSL aggregator router 210 may, in response,communicate the request EPG signal 404 to the video head-end equipment402. The video head-end equipment 402, in response, may access andcommunicate EPG and imaging information via the DSL aggregator router210 to the set top box 220 a. The set top box 220 a may store theelectronic programming guide and imaging information at step 408. Atstep 410, a confirmation message may be sent from the set top box 220 ato the video head-end equipment 402 via the DSL aggregator router 210 tonotify the video head-end equipment 402 that the EPG and imaginginformation was successfully received and stored on the set top box 220a.

At step 412, video programming may be communicated to the DSL aggregatorrouter 210. The video programming may be communicated in one or moredata streams. In one embodiment, the video programming may include abouthalf or more of the channels available to be accessed by end-users sothat end-users may more quickly receive the video programming uponselection of one of the channels being streamed to the DSL aggregatorrouter 210. Alternatively, the video head-end equipment 402 may not sendhalf of the channels to the DSL aggregator 210 that are currentlyavailable, but rather wait until a channel request is received from settop boxes of end-users and communicate the specific channels beingrequested. These streaming techniques are possible because the end-usersmay view images stored at the set top boxes that represent the videoprogramming currently being delivered on each channel, thereby makingthe end-users less concerned about time for the video programming tostart being displayed.

At step 414, a request for video programming may be communicated fromthe set top box 220 a to the DSL aggregator router 210 in response toreceiving a request from the end-user from a remote control to select achannel. The channel request may come from the end-user pressing an upor down channel selector, typing in a channel number, or selecting achannel via the electronic programming guide. The video programmingrequests may be communicated from the DSL aggregator router 210 to thevideo head-end equipment 402. The set top box 220 a may substantiallysimultaneously begin displaying an image of the video programming thatis stored at the set top box 220 a at step 416. Displaying the image maybe performed substantially instantaneously such that the end-user maymake a decision to remain on the channel or switch channels prior to thevideo programming starting on the channel. Being “substantiallyinstantaneous” means to be an unnoticeable or unperceivable time to aview for an image to be displayed in response to selecting a channel towatch. At step 418, the video head-end equipment 402 may send aninstruction to the DSL aggregator router 210 to send selected videoprogramming from the DSL aggregator router 210 to the set top box 220 aat step 420. A time T_(VP) defining the time between the image of thevideo program being displayed at 416 and the video programming beingreceived at the set top box 220 a at step 420 may be approximately 2seconds, which is more than enough time for a “channel surfer” with anyskill to determine whether or not to switch channels. It should beunderstood that while FIG. 4 is configured to show communication of IPTVover a network, the principles of the present may be utilized on cableand satellite networks as well. In other words, by providing images atthe set top box of video programming delivery systems, “channel surfers”may be able to view images associated with video programming on eachchannel and make a decision as to whether or not to change channels. Itshould noted that images associated with adult programming may show PGrated images so that children are not exposed to improper images.

FIG. 5 is a signal diagram of an exemplary process 500 for set top boxoperation. The process 500 provides for downloading of electronicprogramming guide and associated images to be downloaded from a network502 to a set top box 220 a. A remote control 504 and television 506 maybe located at a location of an end-user. The process starts at step 508,where a request for electronic programming guide information may becommunicated to the network 502 in response to the set top box 220 abeing powered up. At step 510, the electronic programming guideinformation may be communicated via the network 502 to the set top box220 a for storage therein. Images may be communicated via the network502 to the set top box 220 a at step 512. Alternatively, steps 510 and512 may be combined into a single step, where both the electronicprogramming guide information and images are sent. The set top box maystore the electronic programming guide information and images in such amanner as to cause an image associated with a video program to bedisplayed on the television 506 when a channel displaying videoprogramming associated with the image is selected by the end-user.

At step 514, the end-user may use the remote control 504 to requestchannel information from the set top box 220 a. The set top box 220 amay display programming guide information at step 516 to the television506. At step 518, the end-user may use the remote control 504 to pressthe up and down channel selectors to “channel surf.” At step 520, theset top box 220 a may display an image associated with video programmingon the channel selected to be viewed to the television 506. A channelselection request may be communicated from the set top box 220 a to thenetwork 502 at step 522. At step 524, via programming on the selectedchannel may be sent via the network 502 to the set top box 220 a at step524. Of course, if the end-user continues to “surf,” then the set topbox 220 a may not request the channel selection.

In one embodiment, a predetermined request time delay, rather thanstaying on the selected channel, such as 0.3 seconds, may be used todelay requesting the channel via the network 502 to provide the userwith additional time for the end-user to decide whether or not tocontinue switching channels. This time delay T_(R) may be varied ordynamic based on past use by the end-user. The time delay may reduceunnecessary set-up processing by network equipment and communication ofdata streams in the event that the “channel surfer” is slow to makedecisions to switch channels that he or she does not intend to watch inresponse to viewing an image associated with the video programming.

In order to ensure that the set top box 220 a has up-to-date electronicprogramming guide information and images associated with programming oneach of the channels, the set top box 220 a may be configured to requestelectronic programming guide information and images for storage in theset top box 220 a on a periodic basis. For example, the request for theelectronic programming guide information and images may be sent everyhour, two hours, or longer, depending on the amount of memory in the settop box 220 a. The images may have any format, such as JPEG, MPEG, orany other electronic format that may enable the set top box 220 a todisplay an image to the end-user for determining the programmingavailable on each channel.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another exemplary process 600 for set top boxoperation. The process may start at step 602, where electronicprogramming guide information may be stored. Images associated withvideo programming identified in the electronic programming guide may bestored at step 604. In one embodiment, the electronic programming guideinformation and associated images may be received at power-up of the settop box and periodically during operation of the set-top box. Storage ofthe electronic programming guide information and images may be performedsubstantially simultaneously. One or more data repositories, such as arelational database, may be used for storing the electronic programmingguide information and associated images. For example, the informationand images may be received every 4 hours. This time may be based on thesize of memory in the set top box. At step 606, an image associated withvideo programming may be displayed on a selected channel. Displaying theimage may be performed substantially instantaneously. The image may be astill image, such as a title page, or any other image representative ofvideo programming currently available to be watched on the selectedchannel. At step 608, video programming on the selected channel may berequested. The request for the video programming may be delayed for apredetermined time period (e.g., 0.3 seconds). In one embodiment, therequest may be to a head-end server over a network, such as theInternet, Ethernet network, or satellite network. In response toreceiving the video programming on the selected channel, the videoprogramming may be displayed in place of the image.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an exemplary process 700 for network operationfor delivering video programming to end-users. The process 700 starts atstep 702, where channels of video programming are made available forend-users to watch. At step 704, a first subset of channels iscommunicated to a first network device. The first network device may bea router. At step 706, a determination of channels being viewed may bemade. At step 708, a second subset of channels may be established fromthe first subset of channels based on the determination of the channelsbeing viewed. The second subset of channels may be communicated from thefirst network device to a second network device for distribution toend-users at step 710. In one embodiment, the second network device is aDSLAM. In addition, electronic programming guide information and imagesassociated with the electronic programming guide information may becommunicated to the end-users. The electronic programming guideinformation and images may be stored at an electronic device of theend-user. In one embodiment, the process 700 is utilized to distributeIPTV channels. Alternatively, the process 700 may be used for cable orsatellite television systems. Although the principles of the presentinvention have been described in association with set top boxes, itshould be understood that the set top box functionality may beincorporated into the television or network and use the principles ofthe present invention in the same or similar manner.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have beenexplained in detail, it should be understood that various changes,substitutions, and alterations can be made to such embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedsolely by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for displaying video programming to anend-user, said system comprising: memory configured to store electronicprogramming guide information and images associated with the electronicprogramming guide information; an I/O module configured to communicatewith an electronic display and a network; and a processor incommunication with said memory and I/O module, said processor beingconfigured to: receive a request to display a selected channel; access alocally stored image on said memory, the accessed image being associatedwith the selected channel; and display the locally stored image on thedisplay unit until one of a request to switch channels is received oruntil the video programming associated with the selected channel isrequested via the network and received after a dynamic request timedelay between the time the channel is selected and the time videoprogramming associated with the selected channel is requested via thenetwork and displayed on the display unit.
 2. The system according toclaim 1, wherein the processor is housed within a set top box.
 3. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the processor, memory and I/Omodule are housed within a set top box.
 4. The system according to claim1, wherein the locally stored image comprises a still image.
 5. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the locally stored image comprisesa frame of video.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein saidprocessor is configured to display the image associated with videoprogramming on the selected channel prior to displaying the videoprogramming.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processoris further configured to periodically request updated electronicprogramming guide information and associated images.
 8. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the request to display a selected channelis received by a set top box via a remote control.
 9. The systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:receive a request to display a second channel; access a locally storedimage on said memory, the accessed image being associated with thesecond channel; and display the locally stored image associated with thesecond channel on the display unit until one of a request to switchchannels is received or until the video programming associated with thesecond selected channel is requested via the network and received aftera dynamic request time delay between the time the second channel isselected and the time video programming associated with the secondselected channel is requested via the network and displayed on thedisplay unit.
 10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the processor,memory and I/O module are housed within a set top box.
 11. The systemaccording to claim 9 wherein said processor is further configured toperiodically request updated electronic programming guide informationand images.
 12. A method for displaying video programming to anend-unit, said method comprising: storing electronic programming guideinformation descriptive of video programming available to be viewed onrespective channels; storing one or more images associated with thevideo programming; and in response to receiving a channel selectionrequest: displaying a stored image associated with the selected channelon the display unit until one of a request to switch channels isreceived or until the video programming associated with the selectedchannel is requested via the network and received after a dynamicrequest time delay between the time the channel is selected and the timevideo programming associated with the selected channel is requested viathe network and displayed on the display unit.
 13. The method of claim12, further comprising storing the images associated with the selectedchannel in a memory of a set top box.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein the image associated with the selected channel comprises a stillimage.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the image associated with theselected channel a frame of video.
 16. The method of claim 12, furthercomprising displaying the image associated with the video programming onthe selected channel prior to displaying the video programming.
 17. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising periodically requesting updatedelectronic programming guide information and images.
 18. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising requesting the selected channel with aremote control.
 19. The method of claim 12 further comprising: receivinga request to display a second channel; accessing a second locally storedimage, the second accessed image being associated with the secondchannel; and displaying the second locally stored image associated withthe second channel on the display unit until one of a request to switchchannels is received or until the video programming associated with thesecond selected channel is requested via the network and received aftera dynamic request time delay between the time the second channel isselected and the time video programming associated with the secondselected channel is requested via the network and displayed on thedisplay unit.
 20. The method of claim 19 further periodically requestingupdated electronic programming guide information and images.